Anticardiolipin response in Kawasaki disease.

Antibodies against cardiolipin are formed in many different infectious diseases, and high levels are associated with susceptibility to thrombosis, especially in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. In view of the postulated infectious etiology of Kawasaki disease an its association with thrombosis, we have studied the occurrence of anticardiolipin antibodies in this disease. Serial serum specimens from 36 patients were tested, using a solid-phase enzyme immunoassay. A change of at least 0.3 optical density units between two consecutive specimens for at least one immunoglobulin class was observed in 47% of cases. Peak levels occurred one to two weeks after the onset of symptoms. Four patients developed coronary artery aneurysms, and they all showed a clear anticardiolipin response. Anticardiolipin antibodies might be one factor contributing to coagulation abnormalities in patients with Kawasaki disease.